Motor vehicle



Feb. s, 1938. 1=` c. BEST 2,107,593

' MTOR VEHICLE Original Filed March 6, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l F. C. BEST MOTOR VEHICLE yFeb. s, 1938.

Original Filed March E, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 8, 1938 PATENT OFFICE MOTOR VEHICLE Frank C. Best, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Packard Motor Car Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan original application March s, 1933, serial No. 659,879. Divided and this application May s,

, 1936, Serial No. 718,710

4 Claims.

This invention relates to motor vehicles and more particularly to wheel fairing arrangements employed in connection therewith. l

Ihe present application is a division of my prior application for Letters Patent for improvements in motor vehicles, Serial No. 659,879, filed March the type described.

More specifically, it is an object of my invenj, tion to provide a wheel fairing which is designed to reduce the wind resistance of the wheel and its associated parts, and which is adapted to co- 5 operate with the vehicle body panels or fenders for this purpose. I In its preferred embodiment, the invention contemplates the provision of a fairing applied to one of the steerable wheels of a motor vehicle and o which is adapted to partake of the pivotal movements of the wheel as it is angled by means of the steering gear. In this embodiment, the fairing is secured to and supported by the steering knuckle or certain of its associated parts and, in its swinging movements during turning of the vehicle, it is designed to cooperate with the adjacent edges of the body panel, fender, or other running gear enclosing member, to maintain a f proper closure between the fairing and such member to preserve the smooth streamlined contour of the vehicle.

Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, ffthe wheel fairing is associated with a wheel which is provided with an independent wheel sus- 35 pension, and while mounted' to turn with the wheelf, it does not follow the movements of the latter in its vertical oscillations when travelling on irregular surfaces, but rather conforms in this respect to the movement ofthe chassis or under- 40 frame of the vehicle.

Other objects and features of novelty will be lapparent from the following specification when il read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment of my invention is 5 illustrated by way of example. In the drawings: i

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a motor vehicle chassis illustrating one embodiment of the present invention; the wheel fairings and 50 parts of the chassis enclosing portions of the of the vehicle showing the relation, in this particular embodiment, of the fairing and a covering panel with which it is associated;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the wheel supporting and steering mechanism; and

Figuref is a view in vertical section taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

In the drawings the improved fairing is shown in connection with one type of independent wheel suspension with which it is well adapted to be employed. However, its use is not limited to this construction, but it may be employed in other arrangements without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the subjoined claims.

In the illustrated embodiment the side frame members on which the vehicle body is supported are indicated at 95, the axle 96 constituting a structural member serving to tie the side frame members together. Connection between the side frame members 95 and the axle 96 may be eected by securing these members rigidly together at either side of the vehicle, but alternatively a yielding or deformable means may be interposed between the axle and the side frame members to permit slight relative movement thereof. For instance, a plate 91 may be rigidly secured to the axle 96 and a supporting bracket 90 may be secured to the frame, a block 99 of rubber or other imperfectly elastic material being interposed between the plate 91 and the base portion |00 of the bracket 98, and being`secured to both in any convenient manner, for instance by vulcanization. 'I'his construction not only serves to deaden shocks which would otherwise be transmitted from the axle to the frame, but is a compromise between the three point suspension and a four point suspension, preventing to some extent the transmission of forces from the axle to the frame which would result in twisting or weaving of the latter and at the same time ensuring reasonable stability of the frame on the axle.

Each end of the axle 96 affords a support for a member |02 which may be conveniently referred to as a steering knuckle.- The knuckle |02 preferably surrounds the axle and is supported for rotation on a king pin |04, the latter passing through the axle and being secured therein as indicated at |05.

The steering knuckle |02 is formed with a rearwardly extending arm |09 terminating in a boss or bearing portion I I, and an arm I I0 which serves to support the road wheel assembly and which in effect forms a part of the latter is pivotally connected to the boss for swinging movement with respectthereto ina substantially vertical plane.r For instance, thearm |'may'be provided yat its rearward end with `a spindle H2" journalled in the boss l li and extending thereand being pivotally connected at to one arm'v of a bell crank lever |22. The steering knuckle] means v Within the casing 49 whichmay be constructed in any conventional manner, the shock absorber acting between the arms |08 and lit to resist sudden vertical movement of the latter.

I'hevforward end of the arm H0 merges into a plate. |93v which 'carries a wheel spindle vHl onl which the vehicle wheel Ml'may be rotatably Formed on or secured to the forward portion of the plate H3 is alugwl |6, a link II'I being pivotally connected to this ylugvas indicated at ||8 |02 is provided with an upwardly directed arm |26 on which the bell crank lever |22 is pivotally mounted as indicated at |26.`

'Ihe steering knuckle m2 is further provided with a forwardly directed arm |28, to the `outer face of which is secured a leaf spring assembly |30, the spring being retained in position on the arm by bolts |3|.

It will be seen from the drawings that lthe leaf spring lies in' a substantially vertical plane:`

extending normally longitudinally of the vehicle,

and at its outer'end this spring is pivotally connected as indicated at |35 to a link |36, the other endof the link 4being connected as at '|37 to the remaining arm of the bell crank lever |22.

A steering arm |38 is secured to the steering knuckle |02 and is pivotally connected .to a drag only on that steering knuckle |02 which is at the left or steering side of the vehicle, the construction at the right hand side of the vehicle being otherwise identical. The steering knuckles |02 at opposite sides of the vehicle are connected for simultaneous movement by means of a cross tie rod 10, this rod being pivotally secured to any convenient portion of the knuckle, for instance to the underside of the rearwardly extending arm |08 as indicated at |38.

It will be observed that the leaf spring assembly |30 is carried by the steering knuckle and moves therewith during steering movements. By reason of the fact that the knuckle is supported on the vehicle frame, all of the elements of the steering gear may be supported on the i'rame and to vertical movement of the road wheels on encountering an obstruction. When such verticalv movement occurs, the road wheel assembly-swings upwardly, thus rocking the bell crank lever |22 about its pivotal axis |26 and iiexing the spring |30. 'I'he only force which can be applied to the leaf spring |30 is that which tends to ex it in the plane in which it lies, any twisting or lateral stress being eliminated, with the resultV that the life of the spring is appreciably extended. y

By reason of the fact that the steering knuckle partakes of no vertical movement with respect to the vehicle frame, it is `possible to provide a wheel falring carried by the knuckle and movable therewith during steering movement of the latter for deflecting air currents from the wheels and associated parts to decrease the wind resistance. In performing this function, the fairing is ar- Abeen made.

rangedto cooperate Vwith the covering vstructure whichencloses the chassis or running gear of the rvehicle yariel whichv may'comprise a depending portion 'of a body panel: or a fender. `Thus the through for cooperationwith shock absorbing fairing may comprise an vapron |40 extending generally parallel with the outer face of the road This apron may extend downwardly to an extent suilcient to form` inV eect a continuation of the lowest portion of the vehicle body panel or fender |44 and may extend slightly within the` latter member.

vBy forming the inwardly directed portions |42 of thev apron Maas arcs described about the axis of the steering knuckle, these portions may readily vclear the edges of the panel |44 as the knuckle is The apron |60 may be conveniently secured to` the knuckle at the forward and rear portions or th-elatter, for instance a supporting bracket M6 I may be clamped on the leaf spring assembly by means of the boltsv |3| between the spring and the plate |32, and a supporting bracket iti may be bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the rear face of the boss Hi, the brackets |656 and MTE being secured to portions of the apron its as indicated ati |48 and its respectively.

The panel .ist may be extended in the form of ,an apron |50 across the front 'of the Avehicle and by the combined action of the panel |643 and the apron H0, excellent streamlining can be secured.

The-numerous advantages and benets attending the use of the independent wheel suspension which has been described are fully set forth in my copending application to which reference has Furthermore, since the entire wheel assembly including the spring suspension constitutes in effect a relatively compact unit supported on the end of the axle, the assembly and servicing Yof the parts are greatly facilitated. It will also members can be employed without reduction of the maximum angle to which the wheels can be turned for steering purposes. Y

In addition to these features making for' the enhancement of the easy riding and steeringqualities of the vehicle,`the provision of the wheel l fairing which has been described, adds greatly .to the appearance and elicient operation vof the vehicle in preserving the continuous streamline contour of the body thereof. By making the -fairing movable withy the wheel in the horizontal plane and shaping it to continually maintain the small limited clearance with theenclosing panel, a very effective continuous closure is provided at this point. l

It is to be understood that various changes and modiications may be made in the embodiment illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as deiined by the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: y

1. In'a motor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, ofroad wheels disposed at opposite sides of said frame, independent suspension means supporting said wheels on said frame for steering movement and for independent rising and falling movement with respect thereto, fenders carried by said frame, said fenders affording covers for the upper periphery of said alcuna ing knuckle carried by said frame, wheel suspension means carried by said steering knuckle and supporting said road wheel for independent vertical movement in response to irregular road conditions, a' body panel carried by said frame and partly surrounding said wheel, said panel having an opening atv the side of said wheel to permit angular displacement of the latter for steering, and 4a wheel failing carried by said knuckle, whereby said fairing is adapted to follow the steering movements of said wheel, but not to partake of said vertical movement thereof, said fairing being constructed and arranged across said opening so asto aiord a continuation of the adjacent surfaces of said panel.

3. In a motor Vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, of road wheels disposed at opposite sides of said frame,. independent suspension.

means supporting said wheels on said frame for steering movement about a generally upright axis and for independent rising and falling movement with respect to saidt frame, fenders carried by seid frame. said fenders affording covers for the upper peripheral portion of each wheel, each fender being formed to provide a lateral opening to permit angular displacement of said wheel for steering, and a wheel cover carried by said suspension means for steering movement only with each of said wheels, each of said covers being adaptedtoiitintheassociatedopeningsoasto complete the surface of said fender and being provided with an inwardly directed peripheral flange at least partially overlying the periphery of said wheel in the straight-ahead position ol' the latter.

4. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, of road wheels disposed at opposite sides of said frame, independent suspension means supporting said wheels on said frame for movement and for independent rising and falling movement with yrespect thereto, fenders carried by said frame, said fenders affording covers for the upper periphery of said wheels and having lateral openings therein to permit 'angular displacement of said wheels for steering thereof, and wheel covers so supported by said simpension means as to follow steering movements of the wheels but not to partake of rising and falling movement therewith, said covers being so constructed and arranged as to iit within said apertures' and to afford continuations of the adjacent lateral surfaces of the fenders.

FRANKC. BEST. 

